Netscape on Wednesday released its latest browser, version 8.1, which adds features designed to better protect Web surfers against online scams such as spyware and phishing.

Netscape 8.1 offers built-in spyware and adware protection that scans files that Web users try to download as well as those that are sent to them without their interaction, according to a representative for Netscape, a division of Time Warner's America Online subsidiary. The updated browser will also let consumers run complete memory and disk scans.

Other security features include an updated blacklist of potential phishing sites and a security center people can access to see if they need to take action on their computer.

The latest version of the browser also offers updates designed to enhance its RSS (Really Simple Syndication) support. RSS feeds, for example, can be viewed within the browser rather than requiring a separate viewer.

In addition, a new profile manager is designed to let multiple Web users share the same browser but maintain different bookmarks, passwords and other customizations.

It seems that Netscape 8 uses TrustE to determine which sites are "safe" for users to use. I don't think sites like Hotbar and EZula are what users would consider safe.

I may be wrong, however. The above article by Ben Edelman deals with Netscape 8, presumably netscape 8.0. AOL/Netscape may have rewritten their trusting engine for 8.1 and then I may be wrong. On the other hand, it may be the same flawed system in place.

Either way I'm not going to download NS8. I don't trust Netscape, AOL, TrustE, or VeriSign very much.

There are basically three browsers out there. Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera. Most people use Internet Explorer because it's the first choice they see or they aren't given a choice. At work, I use internet explorer. At home, I use Firefox and Opera. I have no choice about having internet explorer, it's intergrated and so many applications call on it for their user interfaces, I couldn't uninstall it even If I wanted to, but I digress...

Netscape's browser is based on their gecko engine, just like firefox, but firefox already kicks butt, so why bother downloading another gecko engine powered browser?

I'll stick with firefox at home and I'll tolerate internet explorer at work.

1st, your quick message is one of the best well written messages I have read about state of browser choices/war. Kudos :)

2nd, There is really another great web browser choice, it is NetDIVE's Oxygen. Here:<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.netdive.com/oxygen/download.htm" target="_newWindow">http://www.netdive.com/oxygen/download.htm</a>What makes Oxygen unique, a real alt to IE or Firefox is that it has Java built-in,amongst other reasons.

1st, your quick message is one of the best well written messages I have read about state of browser choices/war. Kudos :)

2nd, There is really another great web browser choice, it is NetDIVE's Oxygen. Here:<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.netdive.com/oxygen/download.htm" target="_newWindow">http://www.netdive.com/oxygen/download.htm</a>What makes Oxygen unique, a real alt to IE or Firefox is that it has Java built-in,amongst other reasons.

P.S., I think I posted this message 2 times.Sorry if that is the case :)

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